Hobby Greenhouse Benches

There are many styles and sizes of greenhouse benches available today. There are several considerations one should take into account when purchasing a greenhouse bench. First is the material it is made of, and second is the size of the bench. No matter what you decide on the first two choices you will want a bench with slats or an open top for drainage. A solid topped bench will just hold water and create more problems for you.

Greenhouses have a pretty harsh environment as things go. They are usually damp and have more sun than a typical building would have. Therefore you must consider the material the bench is made of. A maintenance free material is going to be much less troublesome for this application. If it is a plastic or similar material it should have a UV protection. There are fiberglass benches which have a plastic top with UV protection. These are great as far as longevity. Plus, the fiberglass may be painted to match your greenhouse.

Another excellent choice is an aluminum bench. These are readily available with one shelf, two shelves, or even a top tier shelf. There is not any maintenance required for these benches. The last option would be a wood bench. If they are of teak or a similar wood that thrives in the elements it would be perfect. Other woods are not as welcoming to the damp and light filled environment of a greenhouse. They may warp and even come apart depending on the construction.

A simple, inexpensive way to make greenhouse benches is to lay 2 x 4 lumber on top of concrete blocks. The concrete blocks will last virtually forever, but the 2 x 4's may need to be replaced periodically. Still, with a limited budget this is a perfect way to build benches for your greenhouse.

Many people do not think about the way in which a greenhouse bench will actually be used. Most people will want to be able to reach to the back to work on the plants. A comfortable depth for most people is 20". You may go up to 36" without much trouble. Past that you will not be able to work on the plants in the back row comfortably. What you will end up with is neglected plants in the back row and perfectly maintained plants to the front of the bench. This is OK as long as your prize plant did not end up at the back of the bench.

If you have a row to walk down on either side of the bench you will not have as big of a problem. You will be able to reach halfway across from either side. Still, a bench more than 4' wide is not really recommended. Most hobby greenhouses will not have this luxury anyway as they are typically too narrow to accommodate a center bench.

Just keep in mind your end goals for your greenhouse bench when you are shopping for, or building your benches. Make sure that you have one that will accommodate all of your needs to start with.

Tammy Wylie has been selling and installing greenhouses since 1993. She currently owns two greenhouses personally. A smaller 8 x 12 is used to overwinter plants. Her 18 x 24 greenhouse is used to start vegetables, herbs and annual flowers. She also tests new products in this greenhouse and evaluates them for efficiency and user friendliness. She is the owner of http://www.advancegreenhouses.com